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Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

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How to Beat Salvatore (Academy Ace Tournament)

By
Vincent Lau

This is a guide for defeating Salvatore the Instructor during the Academy Ace Tournament in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.

Salvatore can give you a Galarian Meowth if you befriend him.

Salvatore, the languages teacher, is one of the trainers you can fight in the Academy Ace Tournament. He’s a random participant during the second tournament onwards. He can appear during the first, second and third rounds.

What is the Academy Ace Tournament?

The Academy Ace Tournament is a single elimination tournament, consisting of 4 rounds, that you can participate in during the postgame. Your opponents will be trainers and faculty members from Naranja/Uva Academy.

To unlock the Academy Ace Tournament, you must complete the Area Zero story, perform the Gym Inspection for Geeta and report the results to her back at Naranja/Uva Academy.

Recommended Pokémon for Salvatore (Academy Ace Tournament)

Salvatore has a varied team, so you’ll want some variety in yours too. In addition, Dark and Fighting types would be useful to have.

His Pokémon are between Level 65 to 66, so you should be fine with Level 66+ Pokémon.

Here are some recommendations, if you need help:

  • The Level 75 Tera "Lucario" IconLucario at Dalizapa Passage, in the underground tunnel. High level and a good all-rounder.
  • Any of the Treasures of Ruin, powerful Dark type Legendary Pokémon.
  • If playing Scarlet, Great Tusk, a Ground and Fighting Paradox found in Area Zero.
  • If playing Violet, Iron Treads, a Ground and Steel Paradox found in Area Zero.

What Pokémon Does Salvatore (Academy Ace Tournament) Use?

Pokémon Level Type
"Honchkrow" IconHonchkrow 65 Dark Dark Flying Flying
"Persian" IconPersian 65 Normal Normal
"Palossand" IconPalossand 65 Ghost Ghost Ground Ground
"Glaceon" IconGlaceon 65 Ice Ice
"Gothitelle" IconGothitelle 65 Psychic Psychic
"Raichu" IconRaichu 66 Electric Electric (Tera Type: Electric Electric)

Honchkrow

Salvatore’s first Pokémon is Honchkrow.

Salvatore leads with "Honchkrow" IconHonchkrow. It can use Sucker Punch for Dark STAB and to try and go first, if you’re using an attacking move, "Hurricane" iconHurricane for Flying STAB, "Psychic" iconPsychic to deter Fighting types, and "Heat Wave" iconHeat Wave to melt Ice and Steel types.

Fairy, Electric and Rock types are all great choices.

Persian

Tricky "Persian" IconPersian can use Fake Out for a first turn flinch (but can’t be used after that), "Snarl" iconSnarl to hurt Ghost types and lower your Special Attack, "Aerial Ace" iconAerial Ace to surprise Fighting types, and "Play Rough" iconPlay Rough for additional coverage. Its Technician ability will boost the power of all its moves, except Play Rough.

Despite Aerial Ace, Fighting types are ideal for crushing it.

Palossand

Avoid using Water types due to Giga Drain and Water Compaction.

This spooky sand castle can use "Shadow Ball" iconShadow Ball and "Earth Power" iconEarth Power for STAB, "Sludge Bomb" iconSludge Bomb to counter Grass types, and "Giga Drain" iconGiga Drain to deal with Water types. If hit by Water type moves, its Defence will increase by two stages thanks to its Water Compaction ability.

Ice or Dark types are recommended.

Glaceon

This Ice type Eeveelution can use Freeze-Dry for STAB and super-effective damage versus Water types, Ice Shard to try and attack first, "Mud Shot" iconMud Shot to tickle Fire, Rock and Steel types, and Baby-Doll Eyes to try and lower your Attack before you attack.

Fighting types should have zero problems here.

Gothitelle

"Gothitelle" IconGothitelle can use Psychic for STAB, Shadow Ball to hurt Ghost and opposing Psychic typses, "Grass Knot" iconGrass Knot to trip up heavy opponents, and "Reflect" iconReflect to weaken your physical moves. Its Competitive ability increases its Special Attack by two stages if you lower its stats.

Dark types are ideal. Bug types are good as well.

Terastallized Raichu

A non-resisted Thunder from Terastallized Raichu might hurt a little.

For the finale, Salvatore will Terastallize his "Raichu" IconRaichu into an Electric type, further boosting its Electric moves.

It can use "Thunder" iconThunder for STAB and Tera-boosted damage, Grass Knot to handle Ground types, "Focus Blast" iconFocus Blast for additional coverage, and Quick Attack to try and deal some quick chip damage.

Definitely go with a Ground type if possible.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Nintendo, Pokemon Company International
  • Platforms,
    Switch
  • Genre
    RPG
  • Guide Release
    17 November 2022
  • Last Updated
    3 January 2024
    Version History
  • Guide Author

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